Guitar Center Screwed Me Again

[The Bass Clef]

It is a non-starter. You can't throw bodies at this problem. The problem needs a real fix. You have imagineered a process that may not possible on their systems. The people you would task to do this can only do things that their computers have been programmed to allow them to do. I don't think it is ten times more complex than you imagine. It is probably a thousand times more complex than you imagine.

(Plus your solution still doesn't solve the OP problem when two different people buy the same item online)

I know there's a ton of websites already (even some mom and pops shops in all types of retail) that handle the issue of 2 people buying the same item online... Once something is sold online, it immediately changes the item to "no longer available/out of stock", so I don't see that being an issue at all really. Auto parts retailers have had that tech for well over a decade now. I can't see why GC couldn't adopt 15 year old tech for that particular issue. Darren Riley (a very small in comparison to GC) online music parts store has that tech on their site. I know becasue I've wanted to buy multiples of the same item from them and it stopped me becasue I bought the last one already, and it was instant.

As far as the issue of having multiple retail stores and one comprehensive website all interacting together, I don't believe it's 1000xs more complex than I imagine as you say... or even 10xs. I say that because with all the thousands of different types of retailers in the world (outside of the musical instrument biz) I can't imagine that people haven't already seen a need for that type software, and that it doesn't already exist in several forms to choose from already. I'm not saying it's cheap, but I don't believe GC would have to pay millions and millions to have an IT company custom make it for them. Just buy what's already been invented. Carmax comes to mind as a first thought.

 

[The Bass Clef]

It does, and they do and if you buy something online it goes out of stock immediately, and I bet the store abides by that too.

Works the same if it's in the process of checking out and has been scanned, but if some guy's holding it in his hands (or the store's holding it for someone to check out, perhaps) then that's different.

It's as instant as it can be, which is to say not immediate but close enough. And sometimes two people go for something at the same time. Not sure, again, how this is GC"s fault. People just can't be happy, I guess.

I think the problem is that the system is a much slower than you believe it to be. BTW, I rarely shop at GC so I'm pefectly happy.

 

[gfen]

I think the problem is that the system is a much slower than you believe it to be. BTW, I rarely shop at GC so I'm pefectly happy.

No, I think it's unreasonable expectations on your part.

If I purchase a used item and refresh the page 10 seconds later, it's gone.
Once it's marked sold online, it's going to be marked sold on the z end almost as quickly.
It's not measured in minutes, it's measured in seconds. That's for an in-store sale.
If it's online, it's going to be marked sold in that same 10 seconds.

I suppose it's possible the guys in the store can mark and unmark things as sold and not get caught, but since marking it unsold would likely require a manager's approval I doubt it happens that often.

How about something in the back going missing when they try to pick it? I bet that happens most often.

Face it, it's bad luck or it's coincidence, and it sucks to be you but you got your money back so suck it up, cupcake

 

[jd56hawk]

I bought this for $899.99 from GC in Albuquerque.

I saw the bass online off hours but decided to wait until the store opened in the morning. to make sure the bass was still there. The sales clerk grabbed it off the wall and said he'd call me back after trying it out.
When he did, he told me it was in excellent shape, didn't have a scratch on it, played and sounded great.
I didn't have $900 but I put it on layaway for $500 and told him I wanted it shipped to the GC in Cherry Hill, NJ. He called them, called me back and had me call them, and Tom from Cherry Hill had the Albuquerque store ship the bass to his store...before the cash transaction was even completed, which meant I got to see and play the bass before finishing paying for it!
GC came through again for me.
That day, I checked on the webpage several times and saw that the bass was still showing up, but when I called them after dinner I was told "Sorry, that bass is no longer available."
It didn't cost me a penny and it only took a few minutes.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I always call the store before placing order just to confirm said item is instock. It works wonders.

Yes, that whole "taking responsibility for your shizzle" thing works wonders.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Man, these GC slam threads, justified or not, always get lots of traction.

 

[pedroims]

The problem are the interfaces from order managment to inventory, if they happens one or twice a day then there is a high risk to place more orders than the available inventory.

 

[Kmonk]

Websites are not updated instantly after a purchase. The best thing to do is call the store directly and place the order over the phone. That way you are sure of getting what you want and you will also have the name of an employee if the item is damaged or not as described when you receive it.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I should note that I usually do call the store first. On this particular morning, I was running out the door and did not have time.

However, this has happened to me a few times before the arrival of GC's online system as well.

Yes, I had actually calle, purchased a bass, and then received a call later that day saying "Oh, somehow one of our guys pulled the bass off the shelf in the back room and sold it to someone in the store."

So I would posit that GC has bigger customer service issues than its antiquated POS green screens.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Man, these GC slam threads, justified or not, always get lots of traction.

Yeah. You would think that would register with GC's customer service folk who are paid to scour social media...

 

[pica]

The couple times I've gotten a bass from GC I've always called the store the bass is at and did the transaction over the phone. Just don't trust those online ordering features. Sorry you lost out on that bass but others will pop up, they always do.

 

[Hounddog409]

This morning while perusing the GC used website I found a MusicMan USA Sub bass in Blue for a good price so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and ordered online.

Immediately after placing the order, as I would expect, the listing on their website changed to read "This Item Is No Longer Available."

I go about my day only to receive an email later saying "Your Order is Out of Stock."

GC Sold the bass to someone else. They had the bass listed as abailable, took my CC payment, and later told me they sold it to someone else.

This has happened to me several times even though once is far too many times.

There were no other 4 strings in inventory and even if there were, they would not guarantee giving me one at the same price because it is up to each and every store. Which is the line I got the last few times this happened.

This makes me wonder what is the point of using their website. I am livid and wanted to share this with the world because this is horrible customer service.

They told me that several people could order the same item online so they take the first one that comes up in the queue.

We read about them being in financial duress so I wonder if this is a ploy to trap cash.

Livid! I have bought over 200 used basses from them. You would think they would want to help me figure something out...

If you are searching my website o

This morning while perusing the GC used website I found a MusicMan USA Sub bass in Blue for a good price so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and ordered online.

Immediately after placing the order, as I would expect, the listing on their website changed to read "This Item Is No Longer Available."

I go about my day only to receive an email later saying "Your Order is Out of Stock."

GC Sold the bass to someone else. They had the bass listed as abailable, took my CC payment, and later told me they sold it to someone else.

This has happened to me several times even though once is far too many times.

There were no other 4 strings in inventory and even if there were, they would not guarantee giving me one at the same price because it is up to each and every store. Which is the line I got the last few times this happened.

This makes me wonder what is the point of using their website. I am livid and wanted to share this with the world because this is horrible customer service.

They told me that several people could order the same item online so they take the first one that comes up in the queue.

We read about them being in financial duress so I wonder if this is a ploy to trap cash.

Livid! I have bought over 200 used basses from them. You would think they would want to help me figure something out...

First of all, you did not get screwed. Did you lose money? No.

The only thing happening here is you are complaining that someone else got what you wanted.

This is the life of online purchases.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

This happened to me twice with new gear purchases from gc. same thing both times: clicked buy, went to cart, status message was lit up green "in stock and ready to ship!". so i clicked submit order. Then waited... nothing arrived, checked status and said "processing". called gc and they said "order is back ordered." cancelled. this has only happened to me with gc. never sweetwater, amazon or musician's fiend.

 

[Bodeanly]

First of all, you did not get screwed. Did you lose money? No.

The only thing happening here is you are complaining that someone else got what you wanted.

This.

 

[Ant Illington]

This morning while perusing the GC used website I found a MusicMan USA Sub bass in Blue for a good price so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and ordered online.

Immediately after placing the order, as I would expect, the listing on their website changed to read "This Item Is No Longer Available."

I go about my day only to receive an email later saying "Your Order is Out of Stock."

GC Sold the bass to someone else. They had the bass listed as abailable, took my CC payment, and later told me they sold it to someone else.

This has happened to me several times even though once is far too many times.

There were no other 4 strings in inventory and even if there were, they would not guarantee giving me one at the same price because it is up to each and every store. Which is the line I got the last few times this happened.

This makes me wonder what is the point of using their website. I am livid and wanted to share this with the world because this is horrible customer service.

They told me that several people could order the same item online so they take the first one that comes up in the queue.

We read about them being in financial duress so I wonder if this is a ploy to trap cash.

Livid! I have bought over 200 used basses from them. You would think they would want to help me figure something out...

Yeah, its a ploy to trap cash.

But seriously... you have been screwed by them so many times, on an issue like this alone according to your post, that you really have to quit shopping there lest you look like a really slow learner... if you get my drift.
But, I know how much fun it is to have one's cake and eat it to. You people LOVE getting stuff for bottom dollar while expecting no shortcomings. Quit supporting GC if if they have been so demonstrably terrible, speedy.

If GC is in dire financial straits then they are in dire straits because they are trying to largely serve a mass of people that wants something for almost nothing- Musicians. Well, guys who call themselves musicians. Guys who complain about not getting paid enough then they want the people who build and sell them instruments to be paid like slaves so they can buy $300 basses and then cry when something goes wrong.... and then complain further about the rich guys who own GC using it for a tax write-off. Hell yeah, it's a tax write-off- nobody can make money selling stuff to so many complaining cheapskates. Maybe the next AIA, Affordable Instrument Act, is coming next January. I just hope Eddie Vedder and them and get to pay for your instrument, Mr. 400+ owned iver the years, my middle class butt certainly doesn't want to pay for it.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Yeah, its a ploy to trap cash.

But seriously... you have been screwed by them so many times, on an issue like this alone according to your post, that you really have to quit shopping there lest you look like a really slow learner... if you get my drift.
But, I know how much fun it is to have one's cake and eat it to. You people LOVE getting stuff for bottom dollar while expecting no shortcomings. Quit supporting GC if if they have been so demonstrably terrible, speedy.

If GC is in dire financial straits then they are in dire straits because they are trying to largely serve a mass of people that wants something for almost nothing- Musicians. Well, guys who call themselves musicians. Guys who complain about not getting paid enough then they want the people who build and sell them instruments to be paid like slaves so they can buy $300 basses and then cry when something goes wrong.... and then complain further about the rich guys who own GC using it for a tax write-off. Hell yeah, it's a tax write-off- nobody can make money selling stuff to so many complaining cheapskates. Maybe the next AIA, Affordable Instrument Act, is coming next January. I just hope Eddie Vedder and them and get to pay for your instrument, Mr. 400+ owned iver the years, my middle class butt certainly doesn't want to pay for it.

 

[rogerbmiller]

This.

Misses the point. Yes i got my money back. But they took it in the first place when they should not have

They took my credit card info and processed an order from something they already sold.

And they acknowledge that this happens all the time.

 

[Bodeanly]

Misses the point. Yes i got my money back. But they took it in the first place when they should not have

They took my credit card info and processed an order from something they already sold.

And they acknowledge that this happens all the time.

You did not get screwed. You have your money. Some other kid is playing with the toy that you wanted. End of story.

 

[rogerbmiller]

You did not get screwed. You have your money. Some other kid is playing with the toy that you wanted. End of story.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Misses the point. Yes i got my money back. But they took it in the first place when they should not have

They took my credit card info and processed an order from something they already sold.

And they acknowledge that this happens all the time.

Do you want the opportunity to buy something that is a one off in-store? At least you don't have to call every store and ask what they have. Sometimes the system doesn't work, most times it does. But if you want them to revamp the entire system, it's not going to happen. Every time the instrument is pulled off the wall it would need to be put on hold in the system.